Immersion is the best way to learn a foreign language and culture. Studying abroad offers you a tremendous opportunity to meet new friends and experience life from a whole new perspective! We offer opportunity for you to study in Russia. We encourage you to accept the challenge of cultural exchange and become prepared for the future!

RUSSIA

Why not discover more about this beautiful land and its history, geography, culture and traditions? Russia is the largest country in the world, whose vast territories spread in both - the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia. This unique mix of cultures provides one with an almost endless and truthfully enjoyable experience in many areas such as: sightseeing, exploring and cultural exchange. The land of Russia, which is washed by twelve seas and three oceans, varies very much from forests to deserts, from high mountains to deep valleys. Russia is rich in natural and mineral resources amongst which are: deposits of oil, gas, coal, iron, gold and many others. Russia and Russian language play an important role in the economy, trade and international business now. The current population of Russia is about 150 million people. The European part of the country is densely peopled, and most population lives in cities and towns and their outskirts. The Capital of the Russian Federation is Moscow, with the population of about 11 million people. The second biggest city is Saint-Petersburg, which is inhabited by around 5 million people.

EDUCATION IN RUSSIA

We offer you to spend a semester or a year at a high school or to get higher education in Russia. A good command of English or a working knowledge of Russian is recommended, although we can offer you courses of Russian language here in Russia.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Having completed secondary education, one can either become part of work force or go on to institution of higher education. There are universities and so-called "institutes" in Russia. The former stress a more theoretical, fundamental approach to education, while the latter are more practice oriented.

There are degrees in Russian education system equivalent to those of bachelors or masters. Students spend approximately five years at university/institute or six in a medical academy.

Entry to higher education is quite competitive. To be admitted to an institution of higher education, one has to pass a series of oral and written entry exams (usually four). Grades in the certificate of secondary education are also taken into account. Some departments (philologist, foreign languages, law, journalism) have dozens of applicants for one prospective student's position. The same is true of medical and theatre institutes.

Up to the present, neither university students nor schoolchildren have had any say in the selection of courses they had to take. Everyone has studied according to uniform series of guide lines approved by the Ministry of Higher Education. Evidently, this situation is going to change in the near future.

Education in Russia has until recently been free on all levels. University students with good grades were rewarded with a modest grant. All institutions of higher education were subsidized by the government. Now that the country is changing to a market-place economy, the system of education is also bound to undergo profound changes. The first private schools, gymnasiums and lyceums, have already been founded in Moscow and St. Petersburg, in an attempt to revive the pre-1917 traditions of Russian educational system with its high standards of excellence.

Accommodation is offered either residential or homestay.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

Secondary education is mandatory in Russia. The school year starts on the 1st of September and is divided in four terms, with breaks in autumn, New-Year, spring and summer. Children start school at the age of 6 and finish at 17. As a rule, a child attends the school located in the neighborhood, the one which is the closest to home. However, in big cities there are also so-called "special" schools , offering more in-depth studies of the major European languages (English, French, Spanish, or German), or the advanced courses in physics and mathematics, in arts and ballet, and the children attending one of these may have to commute from home.

The first stage of education is elementary school for grades 1 through 4. Next is secondary school for grades 5 through 9. Upon graduation from secondary school (which is not the equivalent of having completed their secondary education), students are given the choice of either continuing to attend the same school (high school; grades 10 and 11), or entering a vocational school or college. Both schools are meant to provide one, with the certificate of secondary education, with a number of useful skills (e.g., those of an electrician, technical, or computer operator).

SAINT PETERSBURG

With AcademConsult you can choose to study in Saint-Petersburg, the most beautiful city of Russia.

Saint-Petersburg (Former Leningrad, during the dictatorship of the Communist leaders), which was the Capital of Russia for about 100 years, is also known by the names such as: Northern-capital, Northern-Venice and Cultural-capital. Those nicknames display the true beauty, high status and importance of this city. Founded in 1703, by an outstanding ruler - Peter the Great, as a fort city during the War with Sweden, Saint-Petersburg quickly developed afterwards to become the Capital. The heart of the city was built by very famous Italian architects amongst who were Rossi, Rastrelli and many others. They have created a truly gorgeous City Centre with a Classic Style of architecture. The City is build upon the Niva River and has a lot of channels and picturesque parks. Saint-Petersburg is famous for its world known museums and art-galleries, both the classic and modern ones - The Winter Palace (The Hermitage), The Russian Museum and Petergoff. Also, only in Saint-Petersburg one is able to sightsee all the Worlds' religions exist in peace in one city, whether you are a Catholic or Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist - everyone is welcomed here.

RUSSIAN FAMILY LIFE

Russia is well known for its' hospitality, same goes for the families. While your stay everything will be made to make you feel like at home. Usually in Russian families both husband and wife are working, so you will be able to eat together only during breakfasts - which are usually consist of different porridges, or serials and dinners - which are typically long course served dish after dish meals. On weekends it is common to go as a whole family to the countryside for a picnic or a barbeque.

FREE TIME ACTIVITIES

There are plenty of activities to do in your free time. Whether it is sightseeing, clubbing or a sport. One can expect to find a lot music festivals, theater shows, and ballet performances as a contrast to usual activities such as movies or shopping. In addition, you can always go to a fitness centre, ice-skating ring, skateboarding park, solarium or even hunting. During the winter you can do skiing, ride a snowmobile, or experience winter fishing. During warmer times you can swim and sail, pick mushrooms and berries, experience a Russian countryside life.

ORIENTATION DAY

We will be pleased to see you on our Orientation Day Program, which will be held prior to the school start day; there, you will be introduced to the culture of the city and enjoy a guided tour. In addition to this, you will be given an information sheet with all the necessary details about the public transport, emergency phone numbers, maps and etc.